New York & Los Angeles – This April, FOX Sports steps to the plate to bring fans another season of excitement, drama and unforgettable moments as the MLB on FOX returns for its 18th season. The FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK, the sport’s highest-rated and most-watched television package, features a 24-week schedule, including eight consecutive weeks of primetime coverage for the second straight year leading to the 84thMLB All-Star Game. Every U.S.-based team makes at least one appearance this season, and at least one at home during the prime time stretch which begins in late May.

FOX Sports, MLB’s primary national broadcast rights holder since 1996, has been the sport’s exclusive national broadcast partner since 2001. Last October, FOX Sports Media Group and Major League Baseball reached a new, eight-year, multiplatform media rights agreement that keeps FOX as MLB’s national broadcast television home through 2021.

MLB on FOX regional coverage debuts on Saturday, April 6 with a remarkable three game schedule that features rematches of both 2012 League Championship Series and a key A.L. West showdown. That day, the defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers host the runner-up New York Yankees, and the World Champion San Francisco Giants welcome the St. Louis Cardinals, while Los Angeles Angels’ new slugger Josh Hamilton returns to the Lone Star State as the Halos travel to face the Texas Rangers.

Primetime coverage of the 2013 season begins Saturday, May 25 (7:00-10:00 PM ET) with five contests featuring the Washington Nationals and N.L. Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper hosting their division rival Philadelphia Phillies, David Freese and the Cardinals in Los Angeles to take on Matt Kemp and the Dodgers; the New York Mets welcoming the Upton brothers and the Atlanta Braves; the Oakland Athletics visiting the Houston Astros, the American League’s newest member; and an interleague tilt with the Chicago White Sox at home against the Miami Marlins. The primetime schedule also includes interleague games on Saturday, June 15, June 22 and June 29, and culminates on July 13 with five games, including an N.L. Central battle between the Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. In all, MLB on FOX presents 11 interleague games on eight dates.

The schedule on Saturday, June 1 features the first of this season’s record five always-entertaining Yankees/Red Sox rivalry clashes. It was during an April game on FOX last season that the Yankees, trailing Boston 9-0 after five innings, stormed back with seven runs in the seventh and eighth to notch the improbable 15-9 win. The Bosox and Bombers also square off on July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14.

The young and exciting Nationals, Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds are each scheduled to make a maximum nine appearances on FOX, while the Yankees, Tigers, Cardinals, Braves and Dodgers are scheduled for eight appearances. As always, the final two Saturdays of the regular season are designated as “wild card” dates, allowing FOX Sports and MLB to choose games that have postseason implications. Potential selections include Giants-Yankees on Saturday, Sept. 21 and Angels-Rangers and Cubs-Cardinals on Saturday, Sept. 28.

In addition to its regular-season coverage, FOX Sports broadcasts the 84th MLB All-Star Game, live from Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, on Tuesday, July 16 (7:30-11:30 PM ET), the American League Championship Series and the 109thWorld Series. During the past 17 years, FOX has served as the primary broadcast network home of MLB’s jewel events, airing 14 All-Star Games (12 straight), 23 League Championship Series and 15 World Series (13 straight).

Meta

2013 – #4

2012 – #8

2011 – #64

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